DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i10.081

Pages: 4218-4221

In spite of the relation between systemic inflammation and CRP in COPD, only a few studies have assessed the role of CRP in measuring the level of systemic inflammation in COPD to assess the status of disease. The present study was planned to correlate the levels of C-reactive protein as a marker of status of COPD. A total of 100 known patients of COPD, diagnosed on the basis of GOLD guidelines, presenting with moderate acute exacerbation were taken in the study. All of these patients were evaluated at the time of admission, discharge from the ward and at follow-up at six week and levels of CRP were correlated with disease duration, spirometric lung function FEV1, arterial oxygen tension and total leucocyte count to evaluate it as a marker of status of COPD. It correlated significantly positively with TLC and negatively with FEV1 and SpO2. CRP at discharge and follow-up showed significant negative correlation with disease duration. However, it did not correlate with age, duration of smoking and pack years. As CRP elevation was also found in the cases where infective exacerbation could not be demonstrated, so it may be a marker for non-infective exacerbation also. CRP is an important biomarker in COPD to evaluate the status of disease. It is a useful and early marker of the exacerbation and is also beneficial in assessing efficacy of treatment. Thus, CRP estimation should be a routine investigation in COPD patients to know the baseline level, indication of exacerbation and response to therapy in each patient.